Background: Antiangiogenic agents are commonly used in lung and colon cancer treatments, however, rapid development of drug resistance limits their efficacy. Methods: Lentinan (LNT) is a biologically active compound extracted from Lentinus edodes. The effects of LNT on tumor angiogenesis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in murine LAP0297 lung and CT26 colorectal tumor models. The impacts of LNT on immune cells and gene expression in tumor tissues were determined by flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISA. Nude mice and IFNγ blockade were used to investigate the mechanism of LNT affecting on tumor angiogenesis. The data sets were compared using two-tailed student’s t tests or ANOVA. Results: We found that LNT inhibited tumor angiogenesis and the growth of lung and colon cancers. LNT treatments elevated the expression of angiostatic factors such as IFNγ and also increased tumor infiltration of IFNγ-expressing T cells and myeloid cells. Interestingly, IFNγ blockade, but not T cell deficiency, reversed the effects of LNT treatments on tumor blood vessels. Moreover, long-lasting LNT administration persistently suppressed tumor angiogenesis and inhibited tumor growth. Conclusions: LNT inhibits tumor angiogenesis by increasing IFNγ production and in a T cell-independent manner. Our findings suggest that LNT could be developed as a new antiangiogenic agent for long-term treatment of lung and colon cancers.

Purpose: The axon guidance factors and Rho/ROCK pathway play crucial roles in axon protection and nerve repair and has been implicated in the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). This study investigates the protective effects of quercetin against DPN, focusing on axon guidance factors and Rho/ROCK pathway. Methods: DPN was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to Sprague-Dawley rats. The DPN model rats were allocated into three groups and administered quercetin at two different doses (30 mg/kg/day and 60 mg/kg/day) or a placebo. Concurrently, healthy rats were divided into two groups and administered either a placebo or quercetin (60 mg/kg/day). Administration was initiated 8 weeks post-STZ injection and continued for a duration of six weeks. To assess quercetin’s neuroprotective effects, biochemical analyses, neurological function tests (mechanical threshold, thermal response latency, motor nerve conduction velocity), and morphological assessments via transmission electron microscopy were conducted. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical assays were performed on sciatic nerve tissue and high glucose-induced RSC96 rat Schwann cells to explore quercetin’s pharmacological effects on DPN. Results: Quercetin exhibited neuroprotective effects on both DPN rats and RSC96 cells exposed to high-glucose. A six-week administration of quercetin at both doses significantly improved the peripheral neurological functions and alleviated the pathological changes in sciatic nerve of DPN rats (P< 0.05). Mechanistically, quercetin markedly upregulated the expressions of axonal growth factors, Slit-2 and Netrin-1 in vivo and in vitro (P< 0.05), while inhibiting the aberrant activation of Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in the sciatic nerve of DPN rats. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that quercetin improves DPN through a novel mechanism, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for DPN therapy.

Background: To systematically analyze the project completion status and research characteristics in the field of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM, discipline code H32) funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), thereby providing a basis for optimizing the allocation of scientific research resources and adjusting funding strategies. Methods: Based on the NSFC big database system, a retrospective analysis was conducted to descriptively analyze the research output, potential translational capacity, and research characteristics of completed projects in the CMM field funded by NSFC from 2015 to 2024. Results: From 2015 to 2024, a total of 4,574 projects in the CMM field were completed, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0%. The cumulative total funding was 1.86 billion RMB, with an average of 410 KRMB per project. The average research output was 6.6 items per project, and the potential patent conversion ratio was 61%. For the first time, the 19 sub-directions within the CMM field were categorized into four echelons: double-high advantage, high-output low-conversion, low-output high-conversion, and Low-Output Low-Conversion areas. Key advantage areas included CMM pharmacodynamic substances, CMM resources, and ethnic pharmacology. Disease research primarily focused on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, metabolic diseases, and neurological disorders. Technical methodologies rapidly evolved from traditional chemical analysis to multi-omics and systems biology, while research mechanisms expanded towards multi-dimensional regulatory networks. Conclusion: NSFC funding for the CMM field has been consistently stable. The discipline demonstrates an overall trajectory characterized by deepening basic research, rapid iteration of technical methods, increasing diversification of research directions, and steadily improving translational potential. These findings provide data support and decision-making references for optimizing NSFC funding strategies in the CMM field.